Gulf Breeze Hospital Initiates Cath Lab Construction

GULF BREEZE, FL (Feb. 6, 2012) – As the area’s leader in cardiovascular care, Baptist Health Care and Cardiology Consultants are working together to provide a world-class regional heart and vascular program. Construction recently began on a new, state-of-the-art cardiovascular catheterization laboratory at Gulf Breeze Hospital, which will provide even more convenient cardiovascular care for residents of Santa Rosa County.

The $1 million project will bring additional cardiovascular diagnostic services which are currently not available in Gulf Breeze and nearby communities. Construction on the lab is scheduled for completion in May 2012.

“Cardiac catheterization is the gold standard for diagnosing coronary heart disease and we are very excited to provide this service at Gulf Breeze Hospital,” said Hani Razek, M.D., F.A.C.C., cardiologist with Cardiology Consultants.

Diagnostic cardiac catheterization, more commonly called a heart cath, is a relatively painless, minimally invasive procedure which allows cardiologists to examine the blood flow through the coronary arteries (the blood vessels that provide blood flow to the heart). The procedure is performed by placing a long, flexible catheter – a tube about the width of a cooked spaghetti noodle – into a blood vessel and guiding it to the patient’s heart. Radiographic images of the vessels are taken which reveal the adequacy of blood flow through the coronary arteries. Blood flow rates and heart chamber pressures can also be measured and studied along with images of the heart muscle and its valves to determine if any structural or muscular problems are present.

“Gulf Breeze Hospital is expanding to enhance patient access to innovative heart care services by adding these invasive diagnostic imaging options for coronary and peripheral heart disease and heart valve disease,” said Patsy W. Myers, vice president of operations, Gulf Breeze Hospital. “Eventually, we expect to be fully accredited to provide interventional cardiac treatments such as angioplasty and stents.”

The cath lab will be located on the hospital’s ground floor, near the outpatient testing entrance, allowing for easy patient access and convenient parking and registration. In addition to increasing patient access to cardiovascular services, the new lab will bring six new positions to the Gulf Breeze Hospital campus.
Baptist Health Care and Cardiology Consultants are nationally recognized for quality care and innovation. To learn more about heart and vascular services at Gulf Breeze Hospital, visit GulfBreezeHospital.org or call 932.1775 and ask for Cardiology Consultants by name.

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